Shark’s Bay

A sheltered, accessible house reef north of Naama Bay — an ideal training and photography site by day, with a dramatic technical canyon dropping 100+ metres and glassfish-filled pinnacles along the drop-off.

Overview

Shark’s Bay is a sheltered bay located north of Naama Bay and south of Ras Nasrani on the Sinai coast near Sharm el-Sheikh. Despite its name, the bay is not a known shark hotspot — the name predates its development as a dive site. The bay has a well-established house reef used primarily as a training and check-dive location, with a coral plateau starting at 5 metres and dropping to around 20 metres. The shallower sections support healthy hard and soft coral gardens accessible to all experience levels. Along the drop-off, glassfish pinnacles are clustered with dense silverside schools. To the right of the main house reef entry, a canyon drops to over 100 metres — this deeper section is a popular technical diving area but should not be attempted by recreational divers without appropriate certification.

Site Information

• Location: Shark’s Bay, north of Naama Bay, Sharm el-Sheikh, Sinai, Egypt
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 20 meters
• Typical Visibility: 15–25 meters
• Current: Generally calm in the bay
• Best Time: Year-round

Marine Life

The house reef shallow section supports a thriving community of coral reef fish — anthias, butterflyfish, parrotfish, and surgeonfish throughout. Glassfish pinnacles at the drop-off edge (15–20 m) hold dense silverside schools, attended by hunting groupers and trevally. Eagle rays cross the sandy areas between coral heads. Spotted eagle rays are regularly reported. Hawksbill turtles rest on the coral platform. Octopuses occupy holes in the reef — particularly accessible on night dives. The calm conditions make this an excellent site for slow, observational diving with macro subjects including nudibranchs and Christmas tree worms.

Dive Profile

Entry from the jetty or shore into the protected bay. Descend to the coral platform at 5–10 metres and explore the coral gardens, working toward the drop-off at 15–20 metres. The glassfish pinnacles are the highlight of the dive — approach slowly to avoid disturbing the schools. Follow the drop-off to the left (away from the canyon) for the safest recreational profile. Do not enter the technical canyon to the right without appropriate training and equipment. Safety stop at 5 metres over the coral platform. Night dives are excellent here with torches revealing the bay’s nocturnal community.

Entry and Exit

Shore or jetty access from Sharks Bay Umbi diving resort or by boat. The protected nature of the bay means entry is possible in almost all weather conditions — an advantage when other sites are closed. The bay is calm and current-free, making it an excellent option for training dives, equipment tests, and check dives. Night dives are conducted regularly from the jetty.

Tips and Recommendations

• Use this site for training, check dives, or gear testing — the calm conditions and accessible depth are ideal
• The glassfish pinnacles at 15–20 m reward patience — stay still and the schools will settle and become denser over time
• Night dives are particularly productive for octopus and crab sightings
• Sharks Bay Umbi operates RIB transfers to Tiran (20 minutes) — combine a house reef dive with a Tiran trip for a full day
• Do not enter the deep canyon without technical diving certification — the drop is significant and conditions change quickly below recreational depths

Safety Considerations

The house reef is calm and suited to all levels. The primary hazard is the technical canyon to the right of the main entry — recreational divers must not enter. Urchins on the entry rocks near shore. Fire coral on the upper reef. Standard safety precautions apply for all dives. Night dives should be conducted with a buddy and guide familiar with the site layout.

Photography

The glassfish pinnacles at the drop-off edge are the site’s best photographic feature — a wide-angle lens with strobe captures the cascading silver schools against the coral pinnacle structure. The shallow coral platform in 5–10 metres of water is exceptionally well-lit for natural-light macro and wide-angle photography. Octopuses on night dives are consistently available portrait subjects. The calm water and minimal current make this a good site for underwater photography courses and practice.

Sources: Divezone - Red Sea, Dive the World - Egypt Red Sea, Red Sea Scuba Diving, PADI - Diving in Egypt. Last updated 2026-04-04.